Changeable letter arrangement, letter supporting kit and letter supporting clip and track



y 1966 G. A. OFFENHAUER 3,262,225

CHANGEABLE LETTER ARRANGEMENT, LETTER SUPPORTING KIT AND LETTER SUPPORTING CLIP AND TRACK Filed Dec. 1, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. GLENN A. OFFENIM ER y 1966 G. A. OFFENHAUER 3,262,225

CHANGEABLE LETTER ARRANGEMENT. LETTER SUPPORTING KIT AND LETTER SUPPORTING CLIP AND TRACK Filed Dec. 1, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GZENN ,4- OFFEWHAUEE BY 41.42, 194 Jim.

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,262,225 QHANGEABLE LETTER ARRANGEMENT, LETTER SUPPORTING KIT AND LETTER SUPPORTING CLIP AND TRACK Glenn A. Gfienhauer, Palmetto, Fla., assignor to Florida Plastics, Inc., Palmetto, Fla., a corporation of Florida Filed Dec. 1, 1964, Ser. No. 414,991 7 Claims. (Cl. 40-140) The present invention relates to a changeable letter arrangement, letter supporting kit and letter supporting clip and track.

In the past various assemblies and combinations have been provided to permit the quick preparation of signs or announcements such as for stores, showrooms or theatres. Such assemblies usually comprised some form of track oftentimes of fixed spacing on a board and insertable letters or tracks, clip and letter assemblies wherein the letters themselves had integral clips or separately applicable clips.

According to the present invention, a versatile, inexpensive clip, track and letter and clip track and letter assembly is provided allowing for stability in assembly, flexibility in adaptation for use, case in preparation for use, ease in mounting and dismounting, while providing rigidity once mounted.

Although such novel feature or features believed to be characteristic of the invention are pointed out in the claims, the invention and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be further understood by reference to the description following and the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of several mounted letters and punctuation of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation showing the mounting of a letter in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a section of FIG. 1 along line 3-3.

FIG. 4 is a section of FIG. 1 along line 4-4.

FIG. 5 is a detail of FIG. 1 along line 5--5.

FIG. 6 is a detail of FIG. 1 along line 6-6.

FIG. 7 is a detail of a track of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a detail of a clip of FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is a detail of a clip of FIG. 4.

FIG. 10 is a detail of a clip of FIG. 6.

Referring now to the figures in greater detail, where like reference numbers denote like parts in the various figures.

The present invention is a new combination of letters 1, 1a or punctuation marks 2, 2:: adapted to be mounted in conjunction with spaced tracks 3 and clips 4, 5, 6, 7.

The tracks 3 are modular and uniformly adapted for mounting letters 1, 1a or punctuation 2, 2a. The tracks 3 may come in selected lengths or lengths to be cut to size for desired use.

The tracks 3 are preferably of plastic and are mountable on panels 8, 8a, preferably of plastic, though not limited to plastic.

The tracks 3 are usually mounted by cements or thermoplastic bonding, well known in the art, spaced selectively apart to the desired letter 1, 1a size. In FIG. 2 tracks 3 are shown mounted on a fluted panel 8a.

The modularity of the tracks 3 permit their use as both upper and lower letter 1, 1:: supports by the mere inversion of the track 3 depending on its position when mounted on a panel 8, 8a.

The panels 8, 8a, for different effects, may be opaque or translucent, as the letters 1, 1a may be.

While font styles for letters 1, It: may be optional, generally whatever the font used, the letters 1a and punctuation marks 2a are either basically flat or the letters 1 or punctuation marks 2 may include peripheral flanges 9. The effect of the flanges 9 are not only decorative, but

3,252,225 Patented July 26, 1966 also provide substantial rigidity to the letters 1 and punctuation marks 2.

While the clips 4, 5, 6, 7 each have modular characteristics adapted to retain letters on the mounted tracks 3, certain variations must be provided for, to adapt clips for flanged letters 1 and punctuation marks 2 and flat letters In. The clips 4, 6 each include elongated body portions 10, 11 which extend the body of the clips 4, 6 to cover the width of the flanges 9.

The tracks 3 comprise a back portion 12, generally flat, extending the tracks 3 length. The back portion 12 is the part mountable upon the panels 8, 8a. The body 13 of the track 3 extends generally at a right angle from the back 12, ending in a front portion 14 which is substantially parallel to the back portion 12 or may be slightly tapered. Longitudinally in the body 13, parallel to the back portion 12, is a round groove 15 from which extends a tapered longitudinal flange 16 which ends at the front portion 14 of the track 3. The front portion 14 includes regularly spaced small teeth 17.

Each clip 4, 5, 6, 7 includes a rounded portion 18 adapted to fit into the track 3 groove 15. The round portion extends at approximately a right angle from the base 19 of the clip 4, 5, 6, 7. The inside portion of the clip 4, 5, 6, 7 forms a tapering neck which widens as it approaches the front 21 of the base 19. The base front 21 is at the front of the body elongation 10, 11 of the clips 4, 6 which are adapted to hold the flanged symbols 1, 2.

The neck 20 generally has a slope equal to the taper 16 of the track 3. Extending from the base front 21 is a lip 22.

The clips 6, 7 as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 10 have an additional finger 23 extending from the front 21 of the base.

In use letters 1, 1a, with clips 4, 5 spaced and mounted, is placed into the upper track 3 on a panel 3, 8a as shown in FIG. 2 where the track 3 is located at a height above hand reach. The rounded portion 18 rests in the groove 15. The letter then pivots and rotates in the groove 15 until the rounded portion 18 of the clips 4, 5 is adjacent the tapered flange 16 of the lower track 3. A gentle push them snaps the letter into position as the rounded portion 18 rides up the slope of the taper 16 until the rounded portion 18 falls into the grooves 15. There is usually enough resilience in the clips 4, 5 and/or the track 3 or the letters 1, 1a to flex for sliding into position.

The teeth 17 on the track 3 flank the lip 22 on the clip holding the letter in place, allowing a minimum of lateral movement.

The letters 1, 1a are firmly held and can withstand a great amount of stress without being dislocated. On the other hand, the letters 1, 1a are easily removed by gently tugging an edge of the letters 1, 1a, preferably near the bottom track 3, disengaging the rounded portion 18 from the groove 15.

The clips 6, 7 provided with fingers, are adapted to hold a single track 3 and are usually employed with punctuation symbols 2, 2a. The finger 23 grasps the body 13 of the track 3 while the rounded portion 18 of the clip is engaged in the groove 15. The teeth 17 and lip 22 engage against lateral movement.

Of course, more than one track 3 may be used simultaneously (not shown) for placement of mid'line punctuation marks to adapt track areas for different sized letters.

The terms and expressions which are employed are used as terms of description, it is recognized, though, that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

Having thus described certain forms of the invention in some detail, What is claimed is:

1. A letter mounting assembly comprising a pair of tracks spaced apart on a panel, each said track having an outwardly disposed longitudinal round groove and a tapered longitudinal flange extending from said round groove, a letter including at least two rear-facing vertically spaced apart clips, said vertically spaced apart clips each including inwardly facing rounded portions, the neck portion of each of said clips having a slope substantially equal to the tapered longitudinal flange of said track grooves, one of said clips adapted to pivotally fit into one of said track grooves, the other of said clips adapted to ride up the slope of said tapered longitudinal flange of the other of said track grooves and resiliently fit therein holding said letter mounted.

2. A letter mounting assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said letter includes rear-facing peripheral flanges, and said clips have elongated body portions substantially equal in length to said rear-facing peripheral flanges.

3. A symbol mounting assembly comprising a track mounted on a panel, said track "having a longitudinal round groove and a tapered longitudinal flange extending from said round groove, a symbol including a rear-ifacing clip, said clip including an inwardly facing rounded portion; a neck portion having a slope substantially equal to said tapered longitudinal flange; and an inwardly facing finger spaced apart from said rounded portion, said rounded portion adapted to ride up the slope of said tapered longitudinal flange and said finger portion adapted to grasp the body of said track resiliently holding said symbol mounted.

4. A symbol mounting assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said symbol includes rear-facing peripheral flanges and said clip has an elongated body portion substantially equal in length to said rear-facing peripheral flanges.

5. A letter display kit comprising at least one letter, at least two tracks, said tracks adapted to be mounted on a panel spaced apart, each said track including a longitudinal round groove and a tapered longitudinal flange extending from said round groove, at least two clips adapted to be mounted on said letter, each of said clips including extending round portions and sloping neck portions, said neck portions each having a slope substantially equal to said tapered longitudinal flange, said clips when mounted on said letter adapted to resiliently fit into said track grooves, one of said clips pivotally mounted in said track groove and the other of said clips adapted to ride up the slope of the tapered longitudinal flange of said other track to resiliently fit into said track groove.

6. A letter mounting assembly comprising a pair of tracks mounted spaced apart on a panel, each said track having an outwardly dispose-d longitudinal round groove and spaced apart teeth protruding from its edge, a letter including at least two rear facing vertically spaced apart clips, said vertically spaced apart clips including inwardly facing rounded portions and vertically disposed lips adapted to engage said track teeth, and said clips rounded portions adapted to resiliently fit into said track grooves holding said letter mounted.

7. A letter mounting assembly comprising a pair of tracks mounted spaced apart on a panel, each said track having; a back portion; a horizontally disposed body portion; an end portion; said end portion including vertically set horizontally disposed spaced apart teeth; a tapered portion leading from said end portion to a round lgroove; a round groove; said round groove longitudinal of said track, said track mounted with said round grooves disposed parallel and away from each other, and a letter including at least two rear facing vertically spaced apart clips, said vertically spaced apart clips including inwardly facing rounded portions, and vertically disposed lips adapted to engage said track teeth and said clips rounded portions adapted to resiliently fit into said track grooves holding said letter mounted.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,092,508 9/1937 Hammar 40142 2,213,393 9/1940 Hinr 40140 2,272,733 2/ 1942 Wamser 40140 2,880,537 4/1959 Cygan 40140 2,956,360 10/1960 Adler 40140 3,022,592 2/1962 Faulkner 40-140 3,028,700 4/1962 Faulkner 40l40 3,059,363 10/1962 Mack 40140 3,142,124 7/1964 Ownbey 40--140 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. LAWRENCE CHARLES, Examiner.

SHELDON M. BENDER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A LETTER MOUNTING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A PAIR OF TRACKS SPACED APART ON A PANEL, EACH SAID TRACK HAVING AN OUTWARDLY DISPOSED LONGITUDINAL ROUND GROOVE AND A TAPERED LONGITUDINAL FLANGE EXTENDING FROM SAID ROUND GROOVE, A LETTER INCLUDING AT LEAST TWO REAR-FACING VERTICALLY SPACED APART CLIPS, SAID VERTICALLY SPACED APART CLIPS EACH INCLUDING INWARDLY FACING ROUNDED PORTIONS, THE NECK PORTION OF EACH OF SAID CLIPS HAVING A SLOPE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE TAPERED LONGITUDINAL FLANGE OF SAID TRACK GROOVES, ONE OF SAID CLIPS ADAPTED TO PIVOTALLY FIT INTO ONE OF SAID TRACK GROOVES, THE OTHER OF SAID CLIPS ADAPTED TO RIDE UP THE SLOPE OF SAID TAPERED LONGITUDINAL FLANGE OF THE OTHER OF SAID TRACK GROOVES AND RESILIENTLY FIT THEREIN HOLDING SAID LETTER MOUNTED. 